Skip to main content

Humanoids in Humanities


Ever wondered how a bunch of university instructors absorb themselves during a meeting?

Scenario: three languages; four age groups, five ranks, philosophies as varied as the total number of wrinkles of everyone in attendance and a common bottomline: pay.

Some suffer burnout, others are eager for showtime one minute and ready to bite the academic dust the next, while the rest look forward to hearing the meeting is adjourned. A foreign few had to sit quiet through untranslated speeches. They interact via notes -

1. Crap. Syllabus doesn't match the book. Computer nerdery got messed up or who do we talk to about this?

2. Ah there goes conceptual thinking. Look at the powerpoint

3. I'm so sick of being professionally stagnant.

4. Business guys are paid $$ more per hour than the humanoids in Humanities ....

5. That's fair.

6. ... watched Sex and the City last night. It was funny but soon I was no longer laughing at the film... seatmates had to read the subtitle first and were laughing about six seconds late

7. But hey, they say we are paid tonight for warming our seats.

8. I bloody well hope so.

9. The Council is the deciding party for our case. Our license has been issued under TCT rules ... nothing is written in stone yet.... We either apply for a tourist visa or leave the country.

10. I'm beginning to fancy that conference in Vietnam... hmn...

11 God I need coffee!

12. with rum?

13. laced with sedative.

More T13 here.

Comments

Indrani said…
Interesting observations.
So true in most meetings.
Anonymous said…
LOL at 11, 12 and 13. Too funny. I can just picture it. Love the theme my friend. :) Glad you are back and I certainly hope that you and CJ are doing well :)
Hazel said…
Indrani, we could have saved energy :D

Thom, coffee does save the day sometimes. Cj and I are doing well. Thanks.
Beth said…
Hi Hazel, how are you? Been out for months but i'm back! Will catch up on reading some posts here! :) For the meantime, this post is true. I once had a group meeting and the boss kept talking, and we, the graphic designers, exchanged doodles afterward! That's how boring meetings can be!
Hazel said…
Beth! great to see you back. I've been away too. I will pop by at your place by and by.

Popular posts from this blog

Thirteen 13-word Quotes

1. I may be wrong , but I have never found deserting friends conciliates enemies. Margot Asquith , British Political Hostess (1864-1945) 2. Man's love is of man's life a thing apart; Girls aren't like that Kingsley Amis , English novelist and poet (1922-1995) "A Book Idyll" ~ see possible origin, also a 13- word quote: M an's love is of man's life a thing apart, 'Tis woman's whole existence Lord Byron (1788-1824) 3. An autobiography is an obituary in serial form with the last instalment missing. Quentin Crisp , English writer The Naked Civil Servant (1968) 4. Happy the hare at morning for she cannot read the hunter's waking thoughts. W.H. Auden , English poet (1907-73) Dog Beneath the Skin 5. Kissenger brought peace to Vietnam the same way Napoleon brought peace to Europe. (by losing) Joseph Heller, American novelist (1923- ) 6. Guns aren't lawful; Nooses give; Gas smells awful; You might as well live. Dorothy Parker ,...

A little boy's tiara

It's a week abundant with life's little pleasures, and I'm enjoying such a great Friday mood with the FFF ladies over at Susanne's Living to Tell the Story . If you are dropping by from Mommy Moments, please scroll down a bit; thank you. Now the highlights of my week -- 1. Birthday dinner at Cabbages and Condoms . A friend put up with my fondness for dining out and exploring restaurants. C & C supports social development programs of the PDA, an organization that complements the Thai government's effort to promote family planning. 2. Cafe de Tu . We took the sky train to get to a posh mall for dessert. There's a lovely ambience for a slice of chocolate banana cake and a long glass of iced lemon tea. It was sheer relaxation verbalizing ephemeral wishes. From the high ceiling pretty lamps cast off a warm, soft glow making the place conducive for twilight dreams. 3. Work over lunch at Fuji . Now comes a hard, raw bit. I had to carry work to one lunch bu...

Newborn Days and Foggy Mornings

Friday's Fave Five: Foggy Mornings (Please scroll down for Mommy Moments) i. Refund . The business office refunded my visa problem expenses. I had to pay the fine but they took care of everything else which was a pleasant surprise as I didn't expect them to and I already conditioned my mind to face a few deprivations. A colleague who is privy to the vice president told me, "They refunded you because they need you." I don't know whether I should believe it. Foreign employees are sometimes treated like necessary evil around here. But well, it's the refund that's the fave. ii. Foggy mornings . I counted two early mornings of fog. I could not see buildings 2 minute-walk away. The illusion of cold made me smile. iii. Bible Heroes , Ceejay's new DVD interest. He never wanted to watch it when he was 3. I'm glad he's back to christian stuff. For now it's goodbye, Buddhism. iv. Phone conversation with Mama . Mozart's (on left side...